Date:         Wed, 13 Dec 2000 18:07:47 -0500
Reply-To:     Michael Nichols <msnichols@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Michael Nichols <msnichols@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      '81 air-cooled--Timing slipping and jumping around,
              now it won't start!
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

Hello from Atlanta.  My daily driver '81 air-cooled has a serious timing
problem that has been getting worse. This problem started in June on a long
trip to the Northeast. The car stalled and took several minutes to restart.
I reset the timing, which was way off, and all was fine, except the timing
was jumping 1 degree plus or minus. This sequence has reoccurred four times
or five times, including last night, when my car stalled at a light and
would not start for 10 min.  I limped home, and found that the timing was 6
degrees off!  I reset it, but it was jumping around plus or minus 3 degrees
after adjustment.

Today I replaced the distributor with the new rebuilt one out of our  '81
sunroof, and the van still will not start.  I installed the removed suspect
one into the sunroof van and it worked fine.  It is 33F and raining here.
The engine has 20K on a rebuild. The van is a daily driver with very regular
TLC by me, has a new starter, points, plugs, and all tune-up items, and it
is getting a spark and fuel at the plugs. Do not see any vacuum leaks.

Question---What is my problem??

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

Mike Nichols
2 '81 air-cooleds